Worthing in gridlock

Temporary traffic lights, coned-off areas and closed roads have become an all-too-often seen fixture around the town, with seven different roadwork schemes currently being carried out on some of the busiest roads.

Lyndhurst Road has been closed from its junction with Park Road and Beach House Gardens; Marine Parade and West Parade are being re-surfaced; two lanes are closed on the A27 Sompting bypass; gas main work is being done on the A259 Brighton Road; and part of Park Road has been closed.

A spokesperson for West Sussex County Council said: "As far as the county council is concerned, there is never a really good time to carry out roadworks, such as resurfacing, but these schemes are always necessary to keep our road network in the best possible condition.

"We also make every effort where possible to ensure this work takes place at times which avoid the morning and afternoon peak periods.

"We do apologise for any current inconvenience to Worthing residents and people who work in the town."

A disgruntled motorist from Worthing said: "I usually drive along the seafront to work, but it took me 15 minutes to get into the town centre because of the roadworks.

"So the following day, I decided to go along Mill Road, thinking it would be quicker, but I spent even longer in queues because of roadworks along there."

From April, 2008, new regulations will allow the county council to minimise the impact major utility companies have on motorists, residents, pedestrians and businesses.

Councils will be given extra powers to impose conditions and co-ordinate works being carried out by utility companies from sectors such as gas, water, electricity, and telecomms.

Public utility companies must also improve their co-operation with councils to ensure they tell them when, where, and why they want to dig up a road.

Those who do not supply all these details can be penalised.

Currently, local authorities can charge utilities where works do not end on time.

The roads to nowhere

HERE is a guide to the roadworks which have been disrupting journeys:

Resurfacing work was carried out along West Parade, from Wallace Avenue to Heene Road, all last week, with temporary traffic lights and a ban on parking along the road during the day.

Throughout the whole of October there will be temporary lights in Heene Road, at the junction with Cowper Road. There will be work going on 24 hours a day to replace gas mains.

One lane will be closed on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways of the A27 Sompting bypass 24 hours a day until October 29, so improvements can be made to the road.

From Monday, October 8 to Friday, October 12 there will be temporary traffic lights along the A259 Brighton Road, at its junction with Navarino Road, so gas main replacement work can be done.

On Monday, October 8 just for one day, there will be temporary traffic lights along Ham Road, at its junction with Chesswood Road, for road repairs.

At night time, until November 14, work is being carried out on trees along the A27 Upper Brighton Road, with a lane closed between Hoe Court and Offington Corner.

For regularly updated information on roadworks go to www.westsussex.gov.uk and click on Roads and Transport.

What do you think?

Are roadworks a nightmare for your trips around Worthing?

How have you tried to work your journey around them?

What can be done to reduce the impact of roadworks on travellers across town?

Let the Herald know, write your comments in the box below.